Lakeland High School

Fifty-five laptops were stolen from Lakeland High School last weekend,and police are trying to track down the thieves. Police think three people broke into the school at about 2 a.m. Saturday and forced their way into four computer carts before taking the laptops. "The computers are Dell model 5500 laptop computers. Three of the computer carts are described as looking like 'shipping crates.' The other computer cart is black with a lock on the front," police said in a report.

Fifty-five laptops were stolen from Lakeland High School last weekend,and police are trying to track down the thieves. Police think three people broke into the school at about 2 a.m. Saturday and forced their way into four computer carts before taking the laptops. "The computers are Dell model 5500 laptop computers. Three of the computer carts are described as looking like 'shipping crates.' The other computer cart is black with a lock on the front," police said in a report.

A Lakeland High School dean has agreed to resign and surrender his teaching certificate as a result of an investigation into inappropriate sexual conversations police say he had with underage students on Facebook, according to a Lakeland Police Department release. Police say they began investigating the teacher, Greg A. Madsen, in April after parents of a 15-year-old student reported that they had intercepted several inappropriate messages between the student and Madsen. Police executed a search warrant at Madsen's residence on April 26, according to the report, seizing two computers and a cell phone.

A lockdown at George Jenkins High School ended at 3:30 p.m. in Lakeland without the discovery of more ammunition found on the campus, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. The special security measure was taken shortly before noon today when an undisclosed number of cartridges were found in the school's parking lot. No threats have been made against anyone at the school, according to the sheriff's office. Henry Pierson Curtis can be reached at 407-420-5257 or hcurtis@orlandosentinel.

A lockdown at George Jenkins High School ended at 3:30 p.m. in Lakeland without the discovery of more ammunition found on the campus, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. The special security measure was taken shortly before noon today when an undisclosed number of cartridges were found in the school's parking lot. No threats have been made against anyone at the school, according to the sheriff's office. Henry Pierson Curtis can be reached at 407-420-5257 or hcurtis@orlandosentinel.

Betty W. Hocker, Hershey, Pa., announces the engagement of her daughter, Nancy Gail Cole, Orlando, to Robert Charles King, Plainsboro, N.J., son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles King, New Smyrna Beach. She is the daughter of the late Robert Cole. The wedding is Feb. 13. She graduated from Hershey High, Hershey, Pa., and University of Florida, Gainesville. He graduated from Lakeland High School, Shrub Oak, N.Y., Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, and UF.

A student brought a handgun to Lakeland High School today, prompting a police investigation. The student was detained and no one was hurt. Lakeland police responded to the school at 1:13 p.m. after getting a report of a student with a gun. Police released an image of the gun this afternoon with a brief statement. "The student has been detained while this incident is further investigated. Updates will be provided as they occur, the statement said. No other information was released.

BARTOW -- Lakeland High School Principal Tom Ray will finish the remainder of the school year at school-district headquarters in Bartow after an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by several teachers. "The investigation did not substantiate any formal charges of sexual harassment," said David Lauer, assistant superintendent for Polk County schools. Ray was moved from the school because "if it tends to distract students from learning or teachers from teaching, we have to take immediate action," he said.

The bid to defend its Class 5A boys state basketball championship heats up this week for Haines City with the district playoffs at Lakeland High School. "That's a tough thing to try to do,'' Haines City Coach Deron Collins said. "But we think we have a good team, and we're going to do the best that we can.'' There is some pressure to bring another title back to Polk County, too. Before Haines City won the 5A title last season, Lakeland Kathleen took the Class 4A title in 2001 and Lake Wales was the 4A champ in 2000.

Two charity softball games will be played Saturday at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland. Polk County deputy sheriffs will meet a team from the Lakeland Police Department at 2 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., a home-run derby for all volunteer players takes place. At 4 p.m., a softball game between the Lakeland High School Dreadnaughts National Championship football team and the "Alex Smith All-stars" Tampa Bay Buccaneers will begin. A regularly scheduled Lakeland Tigers baseball game will begin at 6 p.m. Proceeds from advance ticket sales will go to Polk Sheriff's Charities Inc. Tickets are available at any sheriff's facility or Lakeland High School.

A Lakeland High School dean has agreed to resign and surrender his teaching certificate as a result of an investigation into inappropriate sexual conversations police say he had with underage students on Facebook, according to a Lakeland Police Department release. Police say they began investigating the teacher, Greg A. Madsen, in April after parents of a 15-year-old student reported that they had intercepted several inappropriate messages between the student and Madsen. Police executed a search warrant at Madsen's residence on April 26, according to the report, seizing two computers and a cell phone.

A student brought a handgun to Lakeland High School today, prompting a police investigation. The student was detained and no one was hurt. Lakeland police responded to the school at 1:13 p.m. after getting a report of a student with a gun. Police released an image of the gun this afternoon with a brief statement. "The student has been detained while this incident is further investigated. Updates will be provided as they occur, the statement said. No other information was released.

For most football teams thankful to be playing, a morning practice is one of the things on their plate today. Top-ranked Kissimmee Osceola (11-0) will go early today in preparation for Friday's home showdown with three-time defending Class 5A champ Lakeland (10-1). "I don't think there's any way around it unless you're way better than your opponent," said Jeff Rolson, the Kowboys coach. "I don't think that's going to be case for us this week. We won't go very long, but you got to get ready."

Two charity softball games will be played Saturday at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland. Polk County deputy sheriffs will meet a team from the Lakeland Police Department at 2 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., a home-run derby for all volunteer players takes place. At 4 p.m., a softball game between the Lakeland High School Dreadnaughts National Championship football team and the "Alex Smith All-stars" Tampa Bay Buccaneers will begin. A regularly scheduled Lakeland Tigers baseball game will begin at 6 p.m. Proceeds from advance ticket sales will go to Polk Sheriff's Charities Inc. Tickets are available at any sheriff's facility or Lakeland High School.

One need look no further than Davenport to see what typifies the biggest problem with this whole issue of (lack of) school planning and (lack of) growth management in front of us. When the Polk County School District came and asked for help from the City Council recently to expand the popular Davenport School for the Arts in the small downtown by closing a street, minds slammed shut like clam shells. The same thing happened several weeks back when the Lake County Commission denied rezoning for a piece of land for a new school in strapped south Lake, where new students seem to sprout right from the earth like bluebonnets on a Texas median.

BARTOW -- Lakeland High School Principal Tom Ray will finish the remainder of the school year at school-district headquarters in Bartow after an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by several teachers. "The investigation did not substantiate any formal charges of sexual harassment," said David Lauer, assistant superintendent for Polk County schools. Ray was moved from the school because "if it tends to distract students from learning or teachers from teaching, we have to take immediate action," he said.

One need look no further than Davenport to see what typifies the biggest problem with this whole issue of (lack of) school planning and (lack of) growth management in front of us. When the Polk County School District came and asked for help from the City Council recently to expand the popular Davenport School for the Arts in the small downtown by closing a street, minds slammed shut like clam shells. The same thing happened several weeks back when the Lake County Commission denied rezoning for a piece of land for a new school in strapped south Lake, where new students seem to sprout right from the earth like bluebonnets on a Texas median.

The bid to defend its Class 5A boys state basketball championship heats up this week for Haines City with the district playoffs at Lakeland High School. "That's a tough thing to try to do,'' Haines City Coach Deron Collins said. "But we think we have a good team, and we're going to do the best that we can.'' There is some pressure to bring another title back to Polk County, too. Before Haines City won the 5A title last season, Lakeland Kathleen took the Class 4A title in 2001 and Lake Wales was the 4A champ in 2000.

Betty W. Hocker, Hershey, Pa., announces the engagement of her daughter, Nancy Gail Cole, Orlando, to Robert Charles King, Plainsboro, N.J., son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles King, New Smyrna Beach. She is the daughter of the late Robert Cole. The wedding is Feb. 13. She graduated from Hershey High, Hershey, Pa., and University of Florida, Gainesville. He graduated from Lakeland High School, Shrub Oak, N.Y., Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, and UF.